Systems and methods for drying and deodorizing lignin

Abstract

In a particular implementation, a system for drying lignin may include a mixer configured to receive lignin and one or more types of desiccant beads and to mix the lignin with the one or more types of desiccant beads. The one or more types of desiccant beads may be configured to reduce a moisture content of the lignin by adsorbing moisture from the lignin into the one or more types of desiccant beads. The system may further include a separator coupled to the mixer and configured to separate the lignin from the one or more types of desiccant beads.

1 . A system for drying lignin, the system comprising:
 a mixer configured to receive lignin and one or more types of desiccant beads and to mix the lignin with the one or more types of desiccant beads, wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads are configured to reduce a moisture content of the lignin by adsorbing moisture from the lignin into the one or more types of desiccant beads; and   a separator coupled to the mixer and configured to separate the lignin from the one or more types of desiccant beads.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lignin has approximately a 35% moisture content prior to mixing in the mixer, and wherein the lignin has approximately a 5% moisture content after separation at the separator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an odor of the lignin is reduced after mixing in the mixer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads comprise activated alumina desiccant beads. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the activated alumina desiccant beads comprise porous aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads comprise one or more of silica gel beads, activated charcoal, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, activated carbon, molecular sieves, montmorillonite clay, metal salts, phosphorous compounds, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dryer coupled to the separator and configured to receive the one or more types of desiccant beads and to dry the one or more types of desiccant beads such that the one or more types of desiccant beads may be provided to the mixer for use in mixing with additional lignin.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an oil heater coupled to the dryer and configured to provide heated oil to the dryer, wherein the heated oil is configured to heat the dryer during a drying process of the one or more types of desiccant beads.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a dust collector coupled to the dryer and configured to remove dust from the dryer.   
     
     
         10 . A method for drying lignin, the method comprising:
 receiving lignin;   receiving one or more types of desiccant beads;   mixing the lignin with the one or more types of desiccant beads, wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads are configured to reduce a moisture content of the lignin by adsorbing moisture from the lignin into the one or more types of desiccant beads; and   after mixing the lignin with the one or more types of desiccant beads, separating the lignin from the one or more types of desiccant beads.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lignin is mixed with the one or more types of desiccant beads until the lignin has approximately a 5% moisture content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lignin is mixed with the one or more types of desiccant beads until an odor of the lignin is reduced. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: after separating the one or more types of desiccant beads from the lignin, drying the one or more types of desiccant beads. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 after drying the one or more types of desiccant beads, providing the one or more types of desiccant beads for mixing with additional lignin.   
     
     
         15 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 lignin having a moisture content of approximately 5% or less.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lignin has approximately a 35% moisture content prior to the mixing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads comprise activated alumina desiccant beads. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the activated alumina desiccant beads comprise porous aluminum oxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more types of desiccant beads comprise one or more of silica gel beads activated charcoal, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, activated carbon, molecular sieves, montmorillonite clay, metal salts, phosphorous compounds, or combinations there. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein drying the one or more types of desiccant beads comprises providing heated oil to a dryer, wherein the heated oil is configured to heat the dryer during a drying process of one or more types of desiccant beads.